Admissions Policy

The Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design is committed to recruiting high-quality students by identifying merit and potential and ensuring that its admissions process is fair and transparent.

The College Admission Policy is closely linked to the College’s Equal Opportunities Policy where the College is committed to the elimination of unlawful discrimination and to the promotion of equality of opportunity for students and prospective students in all its functions. It is also linked to the Students with Disabilities Policy where the College is committed to promoting full participation for disabled students in all aspects of the academic and social life of the College.

This policy is consistent with good admissions practice in higher education, as defined in the Quality Assurance Agency’s UK Quality Code, Chapter B2: Recruitment, selection and admission to higher education, UKVI requirements, validation requirements and complies with current legislation affecting the admission of students.

The application process for both the ten-week Vogue Fashion Certificate and the one-year Vogue Fashion Foundation Diploma consists of three stages.

1. The first stage of the application process is to complete the Online Application Form. This form can be found on our website under “How to Apply” and asks students to fill out their personal details including their name, age, country of residence and nationality (they must upload their passport), as well as their educational history, work experience, and language skills (copy of IELTS score- or other relevant language exam- to be uploaded). They are also asked to write a 500 word personal statement outlining their academic interests and reasons for applying to the College.

2. The second stage of the application process is a 600 word writing assignment entitled The College Challenge. The prompt for this question will vary moderately for each cohort, however the aim remains the same: to assess the candidate’s writing skills, professional ambitions, and interest in the fashion industry. Candidates are given three weeks to complete the assignment, though this may be shorter if they are submitting their application close to the start date of the course.

At this stage the Head of Admissions assesses whether a candidate satisfies the entry requirements and determines if they should be invited for an interview.

3. The third and final stage of the application process is the interview, which is conducted either in person or via Skype. If candidates do not have access to Skype, we arrange a telephone interview, although Skype is preferred, as it is deemed a better way of getting to know a candidate.

The interview runs for approximately 30 minutes. The interviewer then completes an Interview Response Form where the candidate’s knowledge, experience and skills are assessed. This form facilitates discussion on the individual’s suitability for the course between the interviewer and the Head of Admissions.

Entry Requirements

Diploma applicants will also be expected to have completed the three stage application process, to have a good command of the English language and the minimum of the qualifications:

3 GCSEs (grade A-C) or BTEC National Diploma

1 GCE A Level (grade A-C, 9-4)/AVCE or International Baccalaureate

The standard English Language requirement for entry is an IELTS score of 6+, though other relevant exams and experiences in written and spoken English may also be taken into consideration.

The Condé Nast College also takes into consideration a range of alternative equivalent qualifications and relevant work experience, so applicants are welcome to apply even if they do not meet these academic standards.

Applicants must be 18 years or older by the start of the course.

The application process for the BA (Hons) Fashion Communication consists of three stages. The first stage of the application process is to complete the Online Application Form. This form can be found on our website under “How to Apply” and asks students to fill out their personal details including their name, age, country of residence and nationality (they must upload their passport), as well as their educational history, work experience, and language skills (copy of ILETS score- or other relevant language exam- to be uploaded). In addition, they are required to upload an academic reference. They are also asked to write a 500 word personal statement outlining their academic interests and reasons for applying to the College.

Students can also complete this stage via UCAS.

2. After submitting the application form for the BA (Hons) in Fashion Communication, applicants will be asked to submit their portfolio. If an individual is unable to create a suitable portfolio, they have the option to complete our College Challenge, an assignment to be completed in written or video format. Once this has been submitted, the Head of Admissions and Academic Director will review a candidate’s application and decide whether to invite them for an interview. Some outstanding applicants will be invited for an interview after submitting their online application, and requested to submit their portfolio one week prior to their interview. This is at the discretion of the Head of Admissions and Academic Director.

3. The Academic Director and/or the Principal Lecturer interview the applicant in person at the College. In some instances we will permit an interview via Skype, though in person is always preferred. The interview runs for approximately 30 minutes. The Academic Director and/or the Principal Lecturer then complete an Interview Response Form where the candidate’s knowledge, experience and skills are assessed. This form facilitates discussion on the individual’s suitability for the course between the interviewers and the Head of Admissions.

Entry requirements:

All applicants must complete the three stages of the application process, meet our English Language requirements, and be 18 years or older by the start of the course. The preferred A-level requirement for this course is BBB*. Applicants should also have GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4 or above. The College also accepts equivalent qualifications, such as BTEC and Baccalaureate awards and our own Vogue Fashion Certificate. Completion of a Diploma in Foundation Studies (Art & Design or Art, Design & Media) also fulfills the entry requirement.

The standard English Language requirement for entry is an IELTS score of 6+, though other relevant exams and experiences in written and spoken English may also be taken into consideration.

*The Condé Nast College also takes into consideration a range of alternative equivalent qualifications and relevant work experience, so applicants are welcome to apply even if they do not meet these academic standards.

Record keeping duties

The Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design will keep admissions documentation for all students who enrol at the College for the duration of their studies and for six years after.

International students

As part of the University’s UKVI Tier 4 Sponsor Licence, the Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design is required to view and maintain copies of all international students’ current passport and visa (valid for study at the Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design) along with qualification documents (including certified translations if these are not in English) on the basis of which admission was granted to the College.

The Condé Nast College of Fashion & Design undertakes these checks as part of the registration process upon arrival. We cannot permit an international student to enrol at the College without undertaking this process. In addition to the documentation required as part of our UKVI Tier 4 Sponsor Licence commitments we will also store any other documentation sent to us in support of an application.

Staff Development

The College is committed to ensuring that all those involved in recruitment and admissions are competent to undertake their roles and responsibilities.

Staff participate in national agendas through membership of various professional bodies, through workshops and conferences and are committed to sharing good practice locally and with collaborative partners.

Complaints for admissions process

An applicant cannot complain or appeal where this is a disagreement with the judgement of an admissions decision, in assessing the merits of application, or in reaching a decision on entry, which has been reached in accordance with the published criteria and processes contained in this policy.

Monitoring and Review

The Admissions Policy is reviewed annually by the Head of Admissions for approval by the Academic Standards Committee.

I cannot stress enough how this course was the best thing that I have done in my life. I learned a lot about the industry but also about myself and what I want to do. I just got a great internship and am so excited to start this new chapter of my life!